Lifted Up to Be Healed

There are days in our walk with God when we feel the weight of our own sin, the dryness of the desert, and the ache of questions unanswered. Have you ever found yourself wondering why God feels distant, even when you’re crying out? Today’s readings invite us to draw near to the heart of God—not by running from our pain, but by facing it in the light of divine mercy. Through the ancient wilderness with the Israelites, the cry of the psalmist, and the bold words of Jesus in The Gospel of John, we are led to one truth: salvation is found when we lift our eyes in faith to the One who has been lifted up for us.

In Numbers 21, the Israelites, weary and ungrateful, sin against the very God who delivered them from slavery. Their punishment comes in the form of venomous serpents—a direct consequence of turning from divine providence. Yet in the same breath of judgment, God offers healing: a bronze serpent lifted high, a visible sign of both their sin and their salvation. This image becomes a foreshadowing of Christ Himself, who tells us in John 8:28, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM”. Jesus doesn’t just speak truth—He is the truth, the fulfillment of every symbol and prophecy.

The Psalm bridges these readings with a cry that is both ancient and present: “Lord, hear my prayer; let my cry come to you” (Psalm 102:2). This plea echoes the hearts of those in the wilderness, the crowd before Jesus, and every soul still searching today. God’s response? He heeds the plea of the lowly and does not scorn their prayer. In these scriptures, we are reminded that God is not far off. He sees us. He hears us. And when we lift our eyes—whether to a serpent on a pole or to Christ crucified—we encounter not condemnation, but healing love. Will you allow yourself to be seen and saved today?

First Reading – Numbers 21:4–9

The Serpent in the Desert: A Glimpse of the Cross to Come

The Book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Pentateuch, chronicling the long and often painful journey of the Israelites through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. Its name comes from the census (“numbers”) taken of the people, but its heart reveals something deeper: a narrative of testing, failure, and the steadfast mercy of God. In today’s passage, we encounter one of the most vivid moments in Israel’s desert journey—a rebellion followed by divine judgment and then an unexpected path to healing. The context is crucial: after decades of wandering, the people’s frustration boils over. They forget their deliverance from Egypt and despise God’s miraculous provision. Yet even as serpents strike them down, God raises a sign of salvation—a bronze serpent lifted high. Jesus Himself points to this moment in The Gospel of John, revealing it as a prophetic image of His crucifixion. Through this lens, today’s reading prepares us to reflect on how God transforms suffering into healing and how faith becomes the doorway to salvation.

Numbers 21:4-9
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

The Bronze Serpent. ⁴ From Mount Hor they set out by way of the Red Sea, to bypass the land of Edom, but the people’s patience was worn out by the journey; ⁵ so the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!”
⁶ So the Lord sent among the people seraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of the Israelites died. ⁷ Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you. Pray to the Lord to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, ⁸ and the Lord said to Moses: Make a seraph and mount it on a pole, and everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover. ⁹ Accordingly Moses made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever the serpent bit someone, the person looked at the bronze serpent and recovered.

Detailed Exegesis

Verse 4 – “From Mount Hor they set out by way of the Red Sea, to bypass the land of Edom, but the people’s patience was worn out by the journey.”
Mount Hor, where Aaron had recently died (Numbers 20:28), marks a spiritual transition. As the people detour around Edom due to political tensions, their long journey through the desert becomes more than just physical—it becomes emotional and spiritual. Their patience wears thin, and in this fatigue, their faith begins to falter. This verse reminds us that spiritual perseverance is often tested when we feel delayed, detoured, or directionless.

Verse 5 – “So the people complained against God and Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!’”
Here we witness not just dissatisfaction, but spiritual rebellion. “Wretched food” refers to manna—the miraculous bread God provided daily. Their contempt for manna symbolizes a rejection of divine provision. As The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “In the desert, God fed his people with manna, a prefiguring of the Eucharist” (CCC 1094). In scorning the manna, they foreshadow those who would later reject Christ, the true Bread from Heaven.

Verse 6 – “So the Lord sent among the people seraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of the Israelites died.”
The serpents represent the deadly consequences of sin. The word “seraph” means burning—aptly describing both the physical venom and the spiritual reality of rebellion. This moment reveals a sobering truth: sin wounds and destroys. Yet this punishment is not final—it becomes the ground for a deeper revelation of God’s mercy.

Verse 7 – “Then the people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you. Pray to the Lord to take the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people.”
This is a moment of sincere repentance. They not only recognize their suffering but confess their sin. Turning to Moses—their intercessor—prefigures the role of Christ as the Mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). Moses’ prayer reflects the power of intercession and the importance of acknowledging our failings.

Verse 8 – “And the Lord said to Moses: Make a seraph and mount it on a pole, and everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover.”
God does not remove the serpents, but instead provides a symbol of salvation. Healing requires action: those bitten must look upon the bronze serpent with faith. This act becomes a sacramental gesture—a visible sign that conveys spiritual grace. Jesus connects this directly to Himself in John 3:14–15, where He says, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”

Verse 9 – “Accordingly Moses made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever the serpent bit someone, the person looked at the bronze serpent and recovered.”
This verse shows the fulfillment of God’s promise. The bronze serpent—though lifeless—becomes a vessel of healing through God’s power. Those who looked upon it were not just saved from death but spiritually renewed. It is a moment of divine paradox: salvation through a symbol of what caused the suffering. This anticipates the mystery of the Cross—where death itself becomes the means of eternal life.

Teachings

The early Church Fathers saw in this passage a rich symbol of Christ crucified. Saint Augustine writes, “The serpent signifies death brought about by sin… and just as death came through the serpent, so life came through one who was made in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Tractates on the Gospel of John, 12). This reflection draws a direct line from Moses’ bronze serpent to Jesus on the Cross. The instrument of pain becomes the source of healing.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church echoes this connection: “The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the ‘one mediator between God and men’” (CCC 618). The lifting up of the bronze serpent prefigures the lifting up of the Son of Man, and just as healing came to the Israelites through faith, so does salvation come to us through faith in Christ. The Catechism further affirms, “Faith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation and root of all justification” (CCC 161). Looking upon the Cross in faith is not merely symbolic—it is salvific.

Historically, the bronze serpent (known as the Nehushtan) became an idol and had to be destroyed by King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4). This serves as a cautionary note: even sacred things can be misused when disconnected from their divine purpose. The Church teaches us to lift our eyes not merely to symbols, but to Christ Himself, present in the Eucharist, in the Word, and in the suffering of the world. Saint Thomas Aquinas reminds us, “Christ’s passion completely suffices to fashion our lives” (Summa Theologiae, III, q. 46, a. 6). The Cross is not only a moment in time—it is the pattern of the Christian life.

Reflection

This reading challenges us to confront our own complaints and discontents. What in your life have you been calling “wretched” that is actually God’s provision? Lent is a time to identify the “serpents” that wound us—sins, habits, lies—and bring them into the light. But healing won’t come by hiding from them. It comes when we lift our eyes to Christ, crucified and risen, and admit: “We have sinned.” Just as the Israelites had to look at the bronze serpent, we must look at the Cross—not just glance at it, but gaze upon it until love and trust rise up within us.

How often do we turn our eyes away from Jesus when life stings us? We pray for suffering to end, yet God often gives us a deeper grace: to endure, to be healed, and to be made new. This Lent, let us ask for the courage to look up—to the One who bore our wounds—and be saved. What does it look like for you to gaze at the Cross today? Where in your life do you need healing? Are you ready to look up and be healed?

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 102:2–3, 16–21

A Cry from the Depths: When the Lowly Are Heard

The Book of Psalms is the heart of Israel’s prayer life—an inspired collection of hymns, laments, thanksgivings, and praises that span the full spectrum of human emotion. Psalm 102 is one of the penitential psalms, often prayed in times of affliction and desolation. This psalm echoes the voice of someone who feels abandoned yet refuses to let go of hope. It is a deeply personal cry that becomes a communal song of intercession, bridging the suffering of the individual with the redemptive vision for future generations. In today’s liturgy, Psalm 102 connects the wounds of the Israelites in the desert and the confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees in The Gospel of John. It gives voice to every heart that has ever asked, Where are You, Lord, in my pain? And yet, it proclaims that God is attentive, that He “views the earth from heaven”, and that He hears the groaning of prisoners. This psalm fits seamlessly into today’s theme: the God who heals when we turn to Him in faith is the same God who listens when we cry out from our lowest point.

Psalm 102:2-3, 16-21
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

² Lord, hear my prayer;
    let my cry come to you.
³ Do not hide your face from me
    in the day of my distress.
Turn your ear to me;
    when I call, answer me quickly.

¹⁶ The nations shall fear your name, Lord,
    all the kings of the earth, your glory,
¹⁷ Once the Lord has rebuilt Zion
    and appeared in glory,
¹⁸ Heeding the plea of the lowly,
    not scorning their prayer.
¹⁹ Let this be written for the next generation,
    for a people not yet born,
    that they may praise the Lord:
²⁰ “The Lord looked down from the holy heights,
    viewed the earth from heaven,
²¹ To attend to the groaning of the prisoners,
    to release those doomed to die.”

Detailed Exegesis

Verse 2 – “Lord, hear my prayer; let my cry come to you.”
This verse opens with a raw, desperate plea. The psalmist does not dress up his suffering in theological language—he simply asks to be heard. The word “cry” (in Hebrew, shavah) is more than just a verbal request; it signifies a deep, guttural outpouring of anguish. This verse resonates with the Israelites in Numbers 21 who begged Moses to pray on their behalf. It also anticipates Christ’s own prayers during His Passion. Have you ever cried out to God like this—honestly, urgently, without filters?

Verse 3 – “Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.”
This verse expresses a fear that God might remain silent. To ask God not to “hide His face” is to beg for His presence—a Jewish expression of favor and intimacy. The urgency is clear: “answer me quickly.” The psalmist is not testing God’s timing but revealing how unbearable the silence feels in suffering. It reflects the heart of someone in the desert, both literally and spiritually, desperate for divine reassurance.

Verse 16 – “The nations shall fear your name, Lord, all the kings of the earth, your glory.”
Here the tone shifts from personal lament to prophetic hope. The psalmist envisions a future where God’s justice and majesty are recognized not only by Israel but by all nations. This verse connects with the idea of Christ being “lifted up” in John 8:28—not just as a crucified man, but as the revelation of God’s glory to the world. God’s response to individual suffering has cosmic significance.

Verse 17 – “Once the Lord has rebuilt Zion and appeared in glory.”
This rebuilding of Zion is both literal and symbolic. After exile, the city was in ruins, yet the psalmist trusts in God’s promise to restore it. For Christians, this verse also foreshadows the coming of the Kingdom of God through Christ, who is Himself the cornerstone of the new Zion. It reminds us that God’s glory is not only in miracles, but in restoration—in making all things new.

Verse 18 – “Heeding the plea of the lowly, not scorning their prayer.”
This verse returns to the theme of God’s attentiveness to the humble. Unlike the gods of pagan nations, the God of Israel is moved by the cries of the weak. It’s a striking countercultural claim. The humility of the people becomes the very reason God acts. This echoes Mary’s Magnificat in The Gospel of Luke: “He has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness” (Luke 1:48). God’s heart is with the lowly.

Verse 19 – “Let this be written for the next generation, for a people not yet born, that they may praise the Lord.”
This verse reveals a long view of God’s faithfulness. The psalmist wants future generations to know that God answered prayer. This mirrors the idea in Psalm 78:4: “We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.” Faith is not a private escape from suffering; it is a legacy meant to be passed on.

Verse 20 – “The Lord looked down from the holy heights, viewed the earth from heaven,”
God is transcendent—enthroned in the heavens—but not aloof. This verse confirms that He sees the suffering on earth. The gaze of God is compassionate and engaged. Just as He saw the suffering Israelites in the desert, He sees us. It is an assurance that heaven is not silent.

Verse 21 – “To attend to the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die.”
This final verse speaks directly to the saving action of God. Prisoners and the dying are not forgotten—they are the very focus of His mercy. This ties in perfectly with Christ’s mission, described in Luke 4:18: “He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind.” The God who listens is the God who acts. Salvation is not only spiritual; it involves real liberation, healing, and hope.

Teachings

Psalm 102 teaches us that lament is not a sign of weak faith but an expression of trust. The Catechism affirms, “The Psalms are a school of prayer that teach us to turn our entire being toward God” (CCC 2587). This psalm shows us that crying out to God in distress is itself an act of hope. The psalmist is honest in suffering and confident in God’s faithfulness. We are invited to be the same—unafraid to bring our real emotions to God in prayer.

Saint John Paul II once said, “The Psalms teach us how to pray as Jesus prayed.” In fact, Jesus Himself quoted from the psalms during His Passion. The opening verse of Psalm 22—“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”—was spoken from the Cross. That connection shows us the sacredness of our suffering when united with Christ’s. The psalms, including Psalm 102, are not just ancient poetry; they are the language of Christ and His Church.

The Church has also long connected this psalm to themes of exile and redemption. Just as the Israelites suffered exile from Jerusalem, humanity experiences a deeper exile—estrangement from God due to sin. But in Christ, the rebuilding of Zion has begun. The Catechism tells us, “In the New Covenant, the prayer of the psalms has been taken up into the prayer of the Church” (CCC 2586). That means when we pray this psalm today, we are not just remembering ancient history—we are stepping into the living, breathing prayer of the Church across time and space.

Reflection

This psalm teaches us to bring our brokenness into the presence of God. Do you feel like a prisoner of your circumstances, or like you’re doomed to die in some area of your life? The psalmist reminds you that God hears your groaning and leans down from heaven to release you. Lent is a time to let God meet us in our weakness. What would it look like for you to trust that God actually hears your cries—especially the ones you haven’t dared to say out loud?

Psalm 102 also reminds us that our suffering is never wasted. When offered in prayer, it becomes a testimony for generations. What story of God’s mercy will your life tell the next generation? Whether you are crying out, waiting for an answer, or praising after the fact, your voice matters to God—and to the Church. Don’t silence it.

How can you begin to pray more honestly today? Have you told God what truly hurts? This psalm invites you to do just that. God is not offended by your groaning. In fact, it’s often the place where He begins His most beautiful work.

Holy Gospel – John 8:21–30

Lifted Up in Love: The Revelation of “I AM”

The Gospel of John stands apart from the synoptic Gospels with its unique theological depth and symbolism. Written toward the end of the first century, this Gospel emphasizes Jesus’ divinity, offering profound insight into His identity as the Son of God. Chapter 8 is part of a heated exchange between Jesus and the religious leaders during the Feast of Tabernacles, a Jewish festival celebrating God’s provision in the wilderness. This context ties directly to our First Reading from Numbers 21, where God provides healing through a bronze serpent. Now, Jesus declares that He Himself is the fulfillment of that image—He is the One who must be lifted up. The dialogue escalates with Jesus revealing truths about sin, salvation, and His divine identity. This passage deepens today’s Lenten theme: salvation comes through recognizing and believing in the One who was lifted up—not just physically on the Cross, but spiritually as the revealer of the Father.

John 8:21-30
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

²¹ He said to them again, “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” ²² So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” ²³ He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. ²⁴ That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” ²⁵ So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. ²⁶ I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.” ²⁷ They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said [to them], “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. ²⁹ The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” ³⁰ Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

Detailed Exegesis

Verse 21 – “He said to them again, ‘I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.’”
Jesus speaks of His impending departure—His death, resurrection, and ascension. The people will seek Him but on their own terms, refusing to accept who He truly is. The phrase “you will die in your sin” is sobering. It reveals that sin separates us from God not just temporarily, but eternally—unless we believe and repent.

Verse 22 – “So the Jews said, ‘He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?’”
Their misunderstanding reveals both spiritual blindness and irony. They suggest suicide—a mortal sin in Jewish law—yet fail to see that it is they who are spiritually dying. This verse underscores how often we misinterpret divine truth through a worldly lens.

Verse 23 – “He said to them, ‘You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.’”
Jesus distinguishes Himself from those who reject Him. “Above” and “below” here are not merely spatial terms—they are theological. To be “of this world” is to live according to its fallen logic. Jesus’ origin is heavenly, and only through Him can we transcend our sin and be lifted into eternal life.

Verse 24 – “That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”
This is a pivotal moment. Jesus uses the divine name “I AM” (ego eimi), directly connecting Himself to the God of Exodus 3:14—“I AM WHO AM.” This is not metaphor. It is a bold, unambiguous claim to divinity. Belief in Jesus as the “I AM” is essential for salvation. Without it, we remain in our sins.

Verse 25 – “So they said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus said to them, ‘What I told you from the beginning.’”
Their question reflects persistent confusion. Jesus answers with a reference to the consistency of His identity and message. From the beginning of His ministry, He has spoken the truth about Himself—truth that requires spiritual openness to understand.

Verse 26 – “I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.”
Jesus could condemn them justly, but instead He points to His obedience to the Father. His mission is not to accuse, but to reveal the truth from the One who sent Him. He operates in complete unity with the Father’s will.

Verse 27 – “They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father.”
This verse highlights the blindness of His audience. Despite His many references to the Father, they remain unaware. This ignorance is not merely intellectual—it’s spiritual, rooted in hardened hearts.

Verse 28 – “So Jesus said [to them], ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me.’”
Here Jesus directly connects His crucifixion to divine revelation. “Lift up” refers to the Cross. It is through His suffering and death that people will come to know who He truly is. This verse mirrors Numbers 21:9, where healing came through looking upon the serpent. Now, salvation comes through gazing upon the Crucified Christ.

Verse 29 – “The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.”
Jesus’ unity with the Father is complete. Unlike the Israelites who doubted God’s presence, Jesus is never alone. This verse assures us that obedience to God—even in suffering—brings communion, not abandonment.

Verse 30 – “Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.”
This final verse shows the fruit of revelation: faith. Though many resisted, some hearts were opened. The truth Jesus spoke, particularly about being “lifted up,” stirred belief in those willing to receive it. His words still stir hearts today.

Teachings

This passage is a cornerstone for Christological understanding in the Church. When Jesus says, “If you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins”, He invokes the divine name given to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). The Catechism teaches, “Jesus revealed that God is ‘Father’ in an unheard-of sense: He is Father not only in being Creator; he is eternally Father by his relationship to his only Son, who is Son only in relation to his Father” (CCC 240). This means that Jesus’ identity is inseparable from the Father’s, and believing in Him is believing in God.

Furthermore, The Catechism teaches that Christ’s being “lifted up” is the pivotal moment of our redemption: “The lifting up of Jesus on the cross signifies and announces his lifting up by his Ascension into heaven, and indeed begins it” (CCC 661). The Cross, then, is not merely a moment of suffering—it is a moment of glorification. Just as the Israelites had to look at the bronze serpent, we must look upon Christ crucified to recognize the full weight of God’s love and the depth of His identity.

Saint Athanasius writes, “The Lord did not come to make a display. He came to heal and to teach suffering men.” And Saint Augustine echoes this by saying, “The cross was a pulpit in which Christ preached His love to the world.” Through the mystery of the Cross, the Son reveals the Father, not only in words but in action—making visible the invisible God. The Gospel’s message is clear: we cannot come to the Father unless we recognize the Son for who He truly is—“I AM.”

Reflection

This Gospel compels us to examine what we believe about Jesus. Do we recognize Him as the “I AM,” or do we try to fit Him into categories that feel more manageable? Jesus doesn’t offer us half-truths or partial identities—He reveals the fullness of God’s love and justice, especially from the Cross. Lent is a time to confront our own misunderstandings and false images of God. Have you allowed yourself to be humbled and taught by the Crucified One?

Jesus also challenges us with His bold statement: “You will die in your sins unless you believe…” That’s not condemnation—it’s invitation. He tells us the truth so we might be free. What sins are you holding onto because you’re unsure whether Jesus can actually heal them? Look at the Cross. Believe that the One lifted up did so to lift you out of sin and into life.

Are you willing to gaze at Christ lifted up and say, “I believe You are who You say You are”? Let this Lent be the season where that belief deepens—not just in your mind, but in your heart and habits. Because when we truly believe that Jesus is “I AM,” everything changes.

Look Up and Live

Today’s readings form a powerful arc—from rebellion and suffering, to divine mercy and healing, to the ultimate revelation of God’s love in Jesus Christ. In Numbers 21, we witnessed the Israelites’ sin and God’s discipline, followed by an unexpected sign of grace: a bronze serpent lifted high for healing. In Psalm 102, we heard the cry of a soul in distress, assured that God hears the lowly and does not scorn their prayer. And in John 8, we encountered Jesus declaring Himself as “I AM”, revealing that He would be lifted up—not merely in suffering, but in glory, to draw all people to Himself.

The message is unmistakable: when we turn our eyes to God, even in the midst of pain, He responds with salvation. The bronze serpent in the wilderness foreshadowed the Cross, where Christ bore the venom of our sins so we might be healed. The psalmist’s plea reminds us that God is never deaf to the cries of the brokenhearted. And the Gospel reveals that belief in Jesus as the Son of God—our Savior, our Redeemer, our “I AM”—is the path out of sin and into life.

Where do you need healing today? What areas of your life still carry the sting of sin, sorrow, or unbelief? Jesus invites us, especially during Lent, to lift our eyes to Him—to the One who was lifted up so we might never walk alone again. Will you trust Him enough to look up? Let your gaze be fixed on the Cross, not with fear, but with hope. Let today’s Word stir something new in your soul—a deeper faith, a more honest prayer, a willingness to be healed. Look up, and live.

Engage with Us!

We would love to hear how God is speaking to you through today’s readings. What moved your heart? What challenged your spirit? Share your thoughts, prayers, and questions in the comments below. Let’s grow together in faith as we journey toward the Cross and Resurrection this Lent.

Reflection Questions

First Reading – Numbers 21:4–9
Have you ever resisted God’s provision, like the Israelites did with the manna? What “serpents” in your life reveal your need for healing and trust? How can you begin to look at your wounds through the lens of faith, rather than fear?

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 102:2–3, 16–21
What does your own “cry” to God sound like today? Are there areas in your life where you feel forgotten or unheard? How does this psalm reassure you that God sees you and responds in His perfect time?

Holy Gospel – John 8:21–30
What does it mean for you personally to believe that Jesus is “I AM”? How does the image of Jesus being lifted up on the Cross change the way you view suffering and salvation? What steps can you take this Lent to surrender more deeply to Christ’s truth and presence?

May these readings guide your heart to a deeper intimacy with the Lord. Live each day with eyes lifted toward the Cross, trusting that Christ is with you and for you. In all things, do what you do with the love and mercy that Jesus taught us—knowing that

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